Plant of the Month – July 2015

PALE GUINEA FLOWER

Because of the strong salt winds around Cape Jervis and the dry summers, plants have to be tough to survive there. Many are consequently very tiny, such as the little hibbertia shown here. This rare little plant likes the limestone around the Fleurieu. The bush itself is small and compact, growing to only about 20cm high at Cape Jervis. The leaves are rounder than those of other hibbertias, with Because of the strong salt winds around Cape Jervis and the dry summers, plants have to be tough to survive there. Many are consequently very tiny, such as the little hibbertia shown here. This rare little plant likes the limestone around the Fleurieu. The bush itself is small and compact, growing to only about 20cm high at Cape Jervis. The leaves are rounder than those of other hibbertias, with star-shaped hairs underneath. The flowers, carried on long stalks, are cup-shaped and do not open out very much. They tend to hang down (see the middle photo). You can see how tiny the flowers are, from the photo showing the flower and a fingertip!